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Omaha | Berkshire Hathaway reported a surge in profits in the first three months of the year, thanks to a rebound in the stock market and most of its underlying businesses, but the result was marred by a lack of accounting for its Kraft Heinz stake.
The company, led by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said it swung to a net profit of $US21.7 billion ($30.9 billion) from a loss of $US1.1 billion the year before, in the three months to the end of March.
But the operating results did not include figures for its share of the earnings at Kraft Heinz, the company backed by Berkshire and private equity group 3G Capital that earlier this year took a $US15 billion writedown. The company, which counts Berkshire as its largest shareholder, has not yet disclosed its annual report to US securities regulators nor published first quarter figures.
Kraft’s auditors at PwC had not cleared the company accounts, Mr Buffett told reporters on Saturday (Sunday AEST). “The auditor ... hasn’t signed off on the 10-K. They have to explain why they haven’t signed off, but they haven’t signed off. There’s something going on.”
Kraft is the subject of a probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission into its accounting policies for procurement. It has previously said it was also conducting an internal investigation, and would report its results once this was concluded. However, it missed the expected reporting date for its first-quarter results last week.
“It is an unusual item which we have specifically pointed out in our press release,” Mr Buffett said at the outset of the Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha. “But there is nothing in here plus or minus for Kraft Heinz, where there was last year. When we have the figures we will report them.”
Berkshire put down $US16.1 billion of its $US21.7 billion of profits to the rise in the value during the quarter of its multibillion-dollar stock market and derivative portfolio, which includes stakes in Apple, Bank of America and Coca-Cola, as well as the sale of some securities.
This week Mr Buffett disclosed that Berkshire had added e-commerce giant Amazon to its portfolio as it seeks to put its $US114 billion cash pile to work.
Stripping out the gains generated by its stock and derivatives portfolio – which Berkshire has said are “usually meaningless” given the gyrations in financial markets – the company reported operating earnings of $US5.6 billion, or $US3388 per class A share.
The rise in operating profits from the year before was driven by better results in the company’s unit that includes its BNSF railroad and its energy and utility businesses. Profits from its business underwriting insurance fell 4 per cent from the year before, although the Geico insurance unit saw a rise in policies and increased the prices it charged.
The figure was roughly in line with analyst expectations for operating earnings of $US5.7 billion, or $3390 per class A share, according to data provider Refinitiv.
The results came before Mr Buffett and Charlie Munger, the vice-chairman of Berkshire, took the stage for more than five hours at the company’s annual meeting in downtown Omaha.
Tens of thousands of Berkshire investors descended on the Midwestern city for the meeting to listen to the two men wax on their investment philosophies and broader world views, as well as to spend the weekend shopping from the dozens of companies that Berkshire has purchased over the past five decades.
Management teams from peanut brittle and chocolates confectionery See’s Candies, the Borsheims jeweller, paint maker Benjamin Moore and railroad BNSF walked the convention centre on Friday introducing themselves to shareholders.
Earlier in the week Berkshire hosted the chief executives of its portfolio companies for a dinner and a presentation on its healthcare joint venture with JPMorgan Chase and Amazon, known as Haven.
Greg Abel and Ajit Jain, who last year were promoted to vice chairmen of the company and are seen as potential successors to Messrs Buffett and Munger, also led their first town hall for the assembled executives.
The company earlier this week said it would spend $US10 billion to help finance oil and gas producer Occidental Petroleum’s $US55 billion bid to purchase rival Anadarko Petroleum. But the deal, while going some way to put a dent in the $US114 billion of cash and cash-like securities on the Berkshire balance sheet, does not represent the kind of major takeover for which Mr Buffett has become is known.
The Berkshire class A stock price has also lagged the stock market this year, rising 7 per cent to $US327,766. The S&P 500 has gained nearly 18 per cent since the end of 2018.
Mr Buffett has lamented his recent inability to find high-quality companies to add to the Berkshire portfolio, pinning the blame on high prices in the stock market and well-funded private equity groups which have intensified the fight for such assets. Berkshire’s last major takeover was its $US37 billion purchase of industrial goods company Precision Castparts in January 2016.
“Prices are sky-high for businesses possessing decent long-term prospects,” he wrote to shareholders earlier this year. “2019 will probably see us again expanding our holdings of marketable equities. We continue, nevertheless, to hope for an elephant-sized acquisition.”
Other recent bets have not panned out. The company was forced to take a near $US3 billion impairment charge over its stake in Kraft-Heinz in the first quarter, after the company behind Capri Sun and Oscar Mayer hot dogs said it would take a $US15 billion writedown to reflect the lower profitability prospects of some of its best-known products.
Instead Berkshire has ramped up purchases of its own stock. The company bought back $US1.7 billion of stock in the quarter, surpassing the entire $1.3 billion worth of its shares that it repurchased last year. In an interview with the Financial Times last month Mr Buffett said the time may come when Berkshire buys back as much as $US100 billion of its stock.
Within the Berkshire empire, Clayton Homes reported strong revenue growth on the back of higher home sales and increased interest income on its loans to home buyers. Sales from its NetJets unit, which sells fractional ownership in aircraft, and electronic components distributor TTI, also climbed during the quarter.
Sales at one of its largest units, the BNSF railroad, rose 2.5 per cent to just under $US6 billion. The company said the figure was constrained by flooding across the Midwest, which weighed on shipping volumes. Aircraft parts manufacturer Precision Castparts saw slightly faster revenue growth of 3.1 per cent during the quarter.
Several of Berkshire’s consumer businesses faced challenges during the quarter, with revenues falling at the Duracell battery business, RV manufacturer Forest River, and the See’s Candies unit. The decline at See’s was blamed on the timing of the Easter holiday.


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Tourism New Zealand is proud to have supported the development of this inaugural edition which complements the other 100% Pure New Zealand PR, trade and campaign activity targeting the youth segment.
Co-Trip is one of the most popular and well trusted guidebook brands especially for females in their 20s-30s in Japan, selling over 10 million copies since 2008. As well as being cute, discreet and easy to carry the information is targeted and reliable. This is the first time that a New Zealand edition has ever been published and is the first ever guidebook in Japan tailored to the youth segment.
"This is a great initiative to capture the attention of our vibrant youth market, which represents a significant growth opportunity for New Zealand tourism," says Nick Mudge, Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager for Japan.
The Japanese youth market has experienced a very positive growth rate of 10.1 per cent in the past year, with numbers now reaching over 30,000.
"Our research shows that Japanese youth have the flexibility to travel to New Zealand outside peak season, which fits well with our goal to spread the flow of visitors more evenly throughout the year."
"Like the youth market in general, Japanese youth tend to pack in as many activities as possible into their trip. This means that they are likely to spend more too."
The 112 page guidebook promises readers that a New Zealand holiday will refresh them whilst providing new adventures and experiences such as wine-tasting, hot springs, whale watching, nights under starry skies and world heritage fiords.
Recommended activities include hiking, cycling and marine sports - as well as city exploring with hints on where to eat and what to buy. Featured destinations include Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown as well as surrounding regions.
"The guide book has only been on sale a short while but feedback is positive and we're also seeing encouraging interest from trade partners to use these guide books in their own promotions targeting youth," says Nick.
Japanese speakers can review the New Zealand edition of co-Trip here.
In addition to research for specific sectors, Tourism New Zealand invests in other in-market research, such as the active considerer research and visitor experience monitor survey.
A quick Japan market snapshot is available here.

domain: news


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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Arts Cyclery, the exclusive U.S. importer of MarshGuard products, is now stocking the original MarshGuard fork fender in five new graphic colors. The new colors are Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, and Red.
LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — Produced as a true monocoque frame, with no hard joints or seams, the Ritte Ace is the Los Angeles bike brand's new flagship road racing model for 2015.
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Kappius Components is offering three digital pressure gauge models designed for folks looking for the ultimate pressure accuracy.
PETALUMA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Kitsbow worked with Polartec to develop its new Power Wool Long Sleeve Base Layer. The underlayer top combines the new Polartec Power Wool fabric with Kitsbow's style and fit.
MINNEAPOLIS (BRAIN) — Bike parking brand Dero has unveiled four new bike racks: the Ultra Space Saver Squared, Cycle Dock, Type Rider and Alley Rack.
BRUSSELS (BRAIN) — In honor of “The Cannibal’s” 70th birthday, Eddy Merckx Cycles is introducing a limited run of 70 steel racing bikes — the EDDY70, priced at $17,500 — as the forerunner of the company’s upcoming Heritage collection of steel performance road models.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (BRAIN) — Bonk Breaker is branching out from its energy bars with a new line of Chews.
OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — It was 20 years ago that Shimano first introduced its clipless mountain bike pedal, which used what it called Shimano Pedaling Dynamics — later called SPD or "spuds."
SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — The BMC SLR01 Ultegra features the same frameset raced by the BMC Racing ProTour team.
EUGENE, Ore. (BRAIN) — John Rezell, former editor of VeloNews and current special projects manager for Bike Friday, will release three ebooks on Monday.
Two of the books chronicle Rezell's years covering bicycle racing in the U.S. from 1989-2000.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (BRAIN) — Responding to road cyclists' recent interest in wider lightweight tires, Michelin is now offering its PRO4 Endurance tire in a 700 x 28 size. Previously the model was available no wider than 25.
MORGAN HILL, Calif. (BRAIN) — Kali Protective has launched a new enduro helmet using multi-density EPS, including a softer density foam around the head.
VALLEJO, Calif. (BRAIN) — Wren Sports is offering dealers the opportunity to sell carbon fiber water bottle cages branded with shop or club logos.
The company is offering two styles of 100 percent carbon cages.
PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Cyclocross component maker Gevenalle ventures into the world of gravel riding with the new GX dropbar shifter set.
BLUFFDALE, Utah (BRAIN) — TOGS are lightweight accessories that offer a new hand position for mountain bikers using flat or riser bars. TOGS stands for Thumb Over Grip System.
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Germany (BRAIN) — Lightweight, best known for its carbon wheels, is expanding its carbon fiber smart phone case line with models to fit the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S5.
PORTLAND, Ore. (BRAIN) — Designed with the style-conscious commuter in mind, the Showers Pass Metro Jacket is made to withstand the rigors of year-round cycling in all weather conditions.
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (BRAIN) — Rudy Rack has updated its Line Up Rack. The new Super Line Up Rack requires no adjustment and can handle anything from road bikes to 29ers.
The rack is available in a wall format or island format and can hold from 6 to 15 bikes. Pricing starts at $320.
SQUAMISH, British Columbia (BRAIN) — The new clothing brand 7Mesh is launching with a limited edition Revelation rain jacket, which is now available. 7Mesh's first full line will arrive in February.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (BRAIN) — MindShift's Rotation180° backpacks have integrated hip packs that can rotate to allow users to access contents without removing their packs from their backs.


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Recently, WeChat launched the WeChat Mini Games Creativity Incentives Program to encourage innovation on the platform, including recognizing highly creative games with a “Creativity-Certified” label, better revenue distribution plans, and initial user traffic.
2018 was another big year for digital marketing, with the rise of voice search, AI going mainstream and Walmart buying FlipKart. This was the year that Spotify went public, Huawei overtook iPhone and a video game sparked a dance craze. In this special report, we’ve identified 17 of the biggest trends of the year.
A Russian robot named ‘Boris’, claimed to be a high tech invention on state TV has been revealed as a man in a suit.
With more content available than ever before, the number of Germans watching digital video is surpassing expectations, with YouTube used by more than 50% of the population.
John Lewis has come out top in the battle of the UK Christmas ads, generating 135% more engagements for the brand on social media in the five minutes immediately after each ad airing, according to new data.
Brits are more likely to recommend brands seen on native ads than ones seen on display, according to new research.
It was casting choice that baffled the world: US comedy favourite Danny McBride playing the son of Mick “Crocodile” Dundee in a reboot of that the iconic 80’s film. But it was all an elaborate hoax to promote Australian Toursim.
YouTube has announced a new ad format called ad pods, which are served on longer form content and stack two skippable ads back-to-back.
Mobile payment apps are quickly being adopted by millions of people worldwide and can indicate a country’s attitude toward technological advances, with 47% of people using mobile wallets, according new research.
Holiday spending is to soar 25% across the UK, France and Germany, with the average UK shopper to spend more than three times as much as their continental counterparts, according to a new report.
China is a key focus in two thirds (62%) of CMOs’ global marketing and advertising campaigns, with four out of five (80%) planning to increase investment in the market over the next year and a half, according to new research.
Digital advertising grew by 10% to €25.7bn in the first half of this year, with mobile set to take a 50% share of the total, according to new research.
Chinese retail giant Alibaba has once broken its record for shopping sales event Singles Day, making a gargantuan 213 billion yuan (£24bn) in just 24 hours, but demand for big-ticket items fell due to China-US trade tensions.
Pinterest is launching ‘Promoted Pins’ ads in France as the first non-English speaking country to offer Pinterest’s advertising program.
Proximity mobile payment uptake in Western Europe has been slow, largely due to the popularity of traditional payment methods like cash, credit cards and contactless credit cards.
Artefact, Europe’s largest independent data-driven marketing group, listed on the French Euronext Stock Exchange, has entered the UK to offer brand clients a genuine alternative to both the traditional agency networks and more recent entrants to the market.
TV ad spending in Germany dropped below 25% of total media spending last year for the first time since 2015,while digital increased to 32%, according to new data.
Brexit is likely to disrupt the UK and Europe applications development and maintenance (ADM) services markets in the coming months, according to new research.
UK software and translation company SDL has formed a strategic partnership with Alibaba Cloud to launch a co-developed solution designed to help global brands launch and grow their digital business across the China and Asia markets.
Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba has joined forces with a state fund along with telecom company MegaFon and internet firm Mail.Ru Group as part of a new ecommerce venture in Russia.


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Grindr, maker of the eponymous dating app for gay men, sold a majority stake of 60 per cent to Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech and is now valued at $155 million, The New York Times reported.
“For nearly seven years, Grindr has self-funded its growth… We have taken this investment in our company to accelerate our growth, to allow us to expand our services and to continue to ensure that we make Grindr the number one app and brand for our millions of users,” founder and CEO Joel Simkhai wrote in a blog post.
According to Grindr’s COO, Carter McJunkin, the company will be able to take advantage of Beijing Kunlun’s digital expertise.
As for the investor, it will get a chance to explore markets outside China as well as expand beyond games and into the lifestyle category.
Grinder is available in 196 countries with two million daily regular visitors who spend around 54 minutes in the app, the report said.
Grindr’s revenue in 2014 was $32 million, up from $25 million in 2013.


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Google launches digital hub at Romanian university
Google will launch a digital workshop for programmers at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN), a technical hub aimed at helping students set up and develop tech start-ups, local Mediafax reported.
The new hub will also host student trainings on developing mobile apps while those who wish to have access to certain technologies will benefit from support and mentoring, according to Dan Oros, marketing manager Google Romania.
“Google launches in the fall of 2018 digital workshops for programmers, three technical hubs in three universities in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara where we plan to do four types of activities, namely trainings on developing mobile apps, support and mentoring for students wishing to have access to certain technologies, supporting the setting up of tech start-ups by students, providing financial support of USD 20,000 for start-ups that want to grow faster and expand,” Oros said.
Irina Marica, email@example.com


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Absolute Radio is partnering with Warner Music TV on a compilation featuring ‘80s hits.
The ‘80s station has teamed with the major on Absolute 80s: Unwind, released digitally and physically on December. The network’s brand extension into compilations begins with a collection including 14 No. 1 singles from artists such as Spandau Ballet, T’Pau and Sade.
Harriet Hines, Absolute Radio’s head of marketing, said: “This is Absolute 80s’ first foray into the compilation market and Unwind is the perfect stocking filler. The accompanying radio show and TV advertising demonstrates how everything is being tied together in one integrated campaign, giving people the chance to sample the unique Absolute 80s playlist.”
The brand new Absolute 80s radio Unwind show launched at 9pm on October 30.


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IHS released a report on September 19 revealing that Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store is slated to earn the company $4.9 billion this year — a 70 percent increase from 2011, which saw revenue of $2.9 million.
Don’t Miss: Apple: All Our Maps Need is Time.
Ian Fogg, senior principal analyst for mobile at IHS, credits Apple Maps service and Passbook applications. “Until now, Apple’s iOS ecosystem has focused on virtual services, such as apps, digital music and movies,” he said. “The new Apple Maps and Passbook apps and accompanying location platform for app developers is the keystone for this real-world expansion, and will help support the accelerated growth of the Apple App Store market in 2012.”
This is good news for the biggest company on Earth, despite the fact that its mapping software hit the market with some issues. Apple has clearly won the monetization battle over Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), but the Android platform still holds the dominant share of the market. A tuned-up Apple Maps and a ubiquitous Passbook could convince Google fans to change over. The iOS 6 is already breaking some usage records.
Apple has been a huge winning stock pick for Wall St. Cheat Sheet Newsletter subscribers. Don’t waste another minute — click here and get more of our CHEAT SHEET stock picks now.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) March 18, 2014 -- The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) today announced its cross-marketing partnership with thousands of credit and finance professionals who are represented by the Finance, Credit and International Business Association (FCIB), a division of the National Association of Credit Management. The Bank and FCIB signed a memorandum of understanding that expresses their mutual interest in providing information to business owners about how they may finance and expand export sales while sustaining U.S. jobs.
“At the Ex-Im Bank, our singular focus is equipping U.S. exporters with the tools they need to reach customers around the world and create jobs here at home,” remarked Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred Hochberg. “And we depend upon export finance and business credit professionals across America to connect us with entrepreneurs – particularly those from the small business community - who can benefit from the services we provide. FCIB is the primary network for those credit professionals, so naturally we’re excited about the opportunities that this working relationship will provide.”
As part of the agreement, FCIB will leverage its membership network to distribute information about Ex-Im’s risk-mitigating export credit insurance, loan guarantees, and working capital programs. The FCIB Association contributes to the Trade Finance Guide published by U.S. Department of Commerce, and previously partnered with the International Trade Administration and U.S. Commercial Service.
“FCIB and the Export-Import Bank essentially share the same mission: to help companies turn export opportunities into real sales that maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy,” said Marta Chacon, director for the Americas at FCIB, and a Certified International Credit Professional. “While FCIB does this through education, networking, certification and credit reporting, Ex-Im does it through its unique export financing products that fill gaps between what the private sector can provide, and what security an exporter needs to complete a sale. By working together, we can empower even more companies to access overseas markets, growing businesses and creating jobs.”
ABOUT EX-IM BANK
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that creates and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance, and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. In the past fiscal year alone, Ex-Im Bank earned for U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion above the cost of its operations.
In FY 2013, Ex-Im Bank approved more than $27 billion in total authorizations to support an estimated $37.4 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 205,000 U.S. jobs in communities across the country. For the year, the Bank approved a record 3,413 transactions, 89 percent of them for small businesses. Small-business exporters can learn about how Ex-Im Bank products can help them increase foreign sales at http://go.usa.gov/ZVTd. For other information about Ex-Im, visit http://www.exim.gov.
Media Contact: Steve Horning, (202) 565-3200
Established in 1919, FCIB is internationally recognized as the premier association of executives in Finance, Credit and International Business, providing critical export credit and collections insight, practical advice and intelligence to companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 multinationals to medium and small private companies. FCIB offers unique networking and educational opportunities, enhancing professional careers and improving company competitiveness and bottom line. Through education, its powerful global-reaching network, business credit intelligence and related products, services and resources, FCIB promotes best practices and ethical credit management policies.FCIB is a division and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association of Credit Management. For more information, visit http://www.fcibglobal.com.
Caroline Zimmerman, National Association of Credit Management, http://www.nacm.org, +1 (410) 423-1842, [email protected]


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LAST UPDATED : May 26, 2018, 08:03 PM IST
- Turmeric, jeera weaken on subdued demand
New Delhi, Sep 18 () Turmeric and jeera prices fell by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale kirana market in the national capital today on easing demand from retailers and stockists amid sufficient stocks. Turmeric prices drifted lower by Rs 100 to finish at Rs 9,000-12,100 per quintal.
- PE-VC investments, exits at record high in Aug 2017: EY
New Delhi, Sep 18 () Private equity and venture capital investments in August 2017 hit a record USD 5.4 billion across 45 deals, the highest monthly value of investments ever, says an EY report. According to EY's monthly PE tracker, there was a 5.


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Britain wasn’t eating its vegetables. Not enough of them, anyway. In 2002, the British government stormed schools and took over the airwaves with a campaign to tout the heart-disease-fighting benefits of five daily servings of fruits and veggies. Studies had shown the Brits trailed the rest of Europe in achieving the World Health Organization’s minimum recommendations for produce intake, and that was being blamed, in part, for a growing burden on the public health system.
But the multimillion-dollar campaign was a bust. A 2010 study released by the produce organization Freshfel Europe showed British consumption of bitter leafy greens, bulbs and tubers wilting by 11%. Only the appetite for sugary fruits, such as bananas, seemed to be growing, defying the trend with a slight 1% increase from seven years earlier.
So when the British grocery store chain Tesco began selling an unusual, sweetened version broccoli this summer, it marketed it not just to children, but to those other picky eaters: Mom and dad. “It is hoped the Scottish-grown Supersweet Broccoli will be popular with both children and adults and revive interest in the food,” reported Britain’s Daily Mail, in August, while Tesco advertised the health benefits of the stuff for pregnant women.
Brits certainly aren’t the only fussy ones. In North America, coffee drinkers won’t tolerate their morning brews without as much sugar as a chocolate bar (only a third of coffee drinkers take their java black anymore) and at the local Starbucks they’ll sell you a bite-sized, pink birthday cake pop on a stick to go with it, at only 170 calories each.
Even beer has turned sweeter. After thousands of years of brewing, beer companies began dulling the bitter flavour of their products in the Eighties because American consumers found the hops too pungent, the New York Times reported. That’s not even counting the proliferation of so many candied vodka coolers and chocolatinis.
Lately, farmers have begun growing sweeter carrots, onions and tomatoes, too. And in Florida, producers of that most bitter of crops, grapefruit, are going out of business trying to compete with tropical fruits. Today’s consumers may come off highbrow and mature, sourcing artisan perfume and evaluating the eco-footprint of hand soaps online. But when it comes to food, adults are pushing away bold food flavours like a finicky toddler, choosing, instead, to eat more like children.
Children have an excuse: They’re born with a preference for sweetness, says David Kitts, a food scientist at the University of British Columbia. As our gustatory experiences vary over time, our palates become more refined. But even adults are naturally inclined toward sweets, he says. And as sweet foods become more prevalent, and more cleverly marketed, we actually stop ourselves from developing a taste for full-bodied foods like dry martinis, strong black coffee and dark greens.
Shyon Baumann, the Toronto co-author of 2009’s Foodies: Democracy and Distinction in the Gourmet Foodscape, says our bitter retreat from refined tastes is as much driven by producer economics as consumer tastes. “There was a time when sugar was a luxury item,” he said. “That’s changed to where sugar is basically free.” (That’s due in large part to the heavy U.S. subsidies for corn growers, who have flooded the food-manufacturing sector with cheap high-fructose corn syrup.) Now, to appeal to the sweet-toothed masses, food companies have found it easier than ever to turn their once bitter-tasting products sweeter than ever.
Nowhere is this more evident than with coffee.
Before Starbucks came out with its sugary, whipped creamed, syrup-drizzled Frappuccino in the 1990s, coffee consumption in North America was on the decline. But by turning coffee into a dessert, Starbucks found a way to appeal to the masses. Nearly 90% of Canadians drink at least one cup of coffee a day, according to a 2010 Ipsos Reid poll. And more than 30% of that coffee is purchased at a café or restaurant, where frothy drinks are king.
Over the years, Starbucks has perfected the art of easing their adult clientele back into the world of childhood comforts like steamed milk, colourful confections and cake-like coffees, even inspiring spin-off sectors such as gourmet donuts and high-end cupcakes.
One of Starbucks’ most successful drinks is its Pumpkin Spice Latte, available only for a limited time every autumn. With its cinnamon-scented syrup, steamed milk and sweetened whipped cream, the product has proved so popular that the coffee chain couldn’t keep stores stocked with enough spiced syrup to satisfy demand, causing a recent shortage and minor tantrums amongst its clientele.
“My world almost ended this morning when the local Starbucks told me they were out of Pumpkin Spice Latte,” Tweeted one Kentucky consumer, quoted in the Wall Street Journal last Saturday. The paper quoted a Manhattan barista reporting customers who had “grown emotional” when her store ran out of the stuff.
It wasn’t always this way. Black coffee and tablespoon-sized creamers had once been staples in North American diners and kitchens. Samantha Meis, a coffee purist and the Arizona-based co-founder of the online specialty bean-retailer, Misto Box, blames decades of poor quality beans for changing consumption trends. “If I drink a cup of Folgers black, I don’t think that tastes good,” she said. Blended-coffee fans are just trying to mask the burnt flavour found in widely available brands, she said.
Before starting her operation, Ms. Meis drank “just whatever” to get her through long nights of studying, she says. But in 2008, when she accidentally ordered black coffee at an independent coffee shop, she became a true believer in the medium roast.
She admits the Pumpkin Spice Lattes are delicious, but she believes drinkers are missing out on the true joys of actual coffee flavour by getting hooked on cream and sugar. “Starbucks’ sugary drinks are the starter, kids version,” she says. She calls them “training wheels” for good, black coffee.
But it may be that we’re making it increasingly difficult to kick our sweet habits. Mr. Kitts, the B.C. food scientist, says that by abandoning refined tastes, we eaters may actually be exacerbating the pickiness of our palates. Eating fewer flavourful foods, including certain types of produce, is believed to be creating a widespread deficiency in zinc, a flavour-enhancing mineral, he says. That means it takes longer for us to satisfy our “flavour threshold,” which is when our brains determine we’ve had enough to eat. In short: The duller we make our taste buds, the more we need all that sweetness just to keep ourselves content.


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Six of the ten largest palm oil producers traded on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) face high financial risk exposure from major traders committing to eliminate forest and peatland destruction and human rights abuses from their supply chain, according to a new analysis released today by Chain Reaction Research. The report assesses the financial risk exposure of the ten largest palm oil growers listed on the IDX – which alone represent 10% of global production and $7 billion in annual revenue – as a result of strengthened sustainability policies among the industry’s major buyers.
Over the past year and a half, traders controlling over 90% of the global palm oil trade have committed to No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policies that apply to their entire supply chain, including subsidiaries and third-party suppliers. Industry leaders such as Wilmar International, Golden Agri-Resources, Cargill, Bunge, Musim Mas and others are in the midst of implementing these commitments, and have faced intense public scrutiny to cut off suppliers that violate the terms of these policies. As a result, palm oil growers and producers that lack strong sustainability standards risk losing business with some of their largest customers.
“Particularly for publicly traded companies that face pressure from shareholders, the protection of forests, peatlands and human rights should now be seen as an essential financial responsibility for palm oil producers,” said Jan Willem van Gelder of Profundo, one of the Chain Reaction Research partners. “Given the tremendous pace of change to demand higher sustainability standards, it appears that maintaining the old status quo in the palm oil industry is financially riskier than ever.”
The report assesses the level of risk that producers face based on how their own policies stack up to the NDPE standard, the percentage of their customers with NDPE policies, and their progress in meeting certification levels for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) – which is basic criteria for many traders. Among these ten companies, six were found to sell at least half of their palm oil products to external buyers that have adopted No Deforestation policies. Overall, six of the ten were assessed to have “high” risk exposure, while the remaining four are categorized as having “medium” risk exposure.
While the consequences of these risk may not have hit home yet for all the companies, some of the producers have already begun to feel the impact of this new market: two of the producers – Sawit Sumbermas Sarana and Austindo Nusantara Jaya – have recently had their purchasing contracts suspended over sustainability concerns; meanwhile two others – Sinar Mas Agro Resources Technology and Astra Agro Lestari – have been recently pressured by buyers, investors, and civil society groups to establish stronger sustainability standards.
“Ultimately, the transformation going on right now in the palm oil sector is not going away anytime soon,” said Albert ten Kate of Aidenvironment, one of the Chain Reaction Research partners. “Palm oil companies, especially those that rely heavily on customers with strong sustainability standards, should move to minimize the risk to their business and shareholders by committing to eliminate deforestation, peatland clearance, and labor exploitation from their supply chain right away.”
Analysis: IDX-Listed Palm Oil Growers
June 30, 2015
Six out of ten largest palm oil growers listed on the Indonesian stock exchange (IDX) have high-risk exposure to major buyer/traders’ No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) purchasing policies. Six out of these ten growers sell 50% or more of their crude palm oil and/or palm kernel oil to buyers that have adopted such policies for their supply chain.


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Like their other rivals, Samsung and Huawei, Apple has a tradition of releasing a new iPhone every year. If you are Looking for the iPhone 12 launch date 2020, you are in right place. Pretty much we’ve expected, the new iPhone 12 has been announced in the recent iPhone 12 launch Event also named as Apple Event October 2020 on 13th October 2020. While we have all been anticipating what Apple has to offer, let us dive deep into the Apple 2020 event and see what we got from the American tech-giant this year.
Table of Contents
iphone 12 launch date
The Event Took Place at Apple Park. Last months at the same place Apple introduced its few amazing products that included;
- Apple Watch Series 6
- Watch Watch SE
- 8th Generation iPad
- All new iPad Air
The event starts with the Introduction of the last month’s newly updated products which are mentioned above. It is claimed that the new additions to the apple amazing products are such that you are going to Love.
1st Comes, The newest addition to the Apple HomePod Family, it is named as
Apple HomePod Mini
Apple HomePod Mini (A Wonderful Mini Speaker) – The design is incredible. It has a world-class sound, intelligent assistant. The smart Speakers are for privacy and security. It has Apple S5 incredible Chip.
The New iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Launch and Announced Features
Apple has been releasing multiple variants for every one of its new entry in the iPhone franchise. As we speak and expected, they have announced iPhone 12, 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 Mini today in the latest Apple Event in October 2020. However, Apple has not given any official release date for these recent entries so far, though the phones are available for pre-order on Apple’s website.
However, this line of iPhone 12s will have 5G enabled that we have been expecting. Moreover, Apple had its eyes on the user feedback since their last couple of iPhone releases. Maybe, bringing a vast array of colors for their new iPhone 12 is a result of that.
There will also be a new design and A14 Bionic chip that will be the fastest installed in any smartphone ever, according to the manufacturer’s claim. iPhone 12 will also have LiDAR Scanner that is supposed to produce better images while the light-quality is low in the surrounding.
The iPhone 12 will be launched alongside MagSafe. The MagSafe accessories will include new cases, wireless chargers, wallets, and built-in magnets that will allow you to carry your iPhone 12 easily. These accessories will be available in-store from 23rd October; however, you can pre-order them right away.
Another big announcement from the 2020 Apple Event is HomePod Mini for your iPhone 12 that will have intelligent Siri assistance, allowing smart home control. It is perfect for your room at a reasonable price while promising a private and secure use of technology.
The iPhone 12, 12 Pro, Pro Max, and 12 Mini Prices:
The standard iPhone 12 is priced at $999 on pre-order. The phone will have multiple variants having different storage options such as 128, 256, and 512 GB. Also, the four available colors are Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue. Depending on what combination you choose, the iPhone 12 prices will vary between $999 and $1500 on pre-ordering the phone.
These were all the announcement that the American tech conglomerate Apple made during their latest Apple Event of 2020. Please keep visiting our website for more great information and the latest news on what’s more to come from Apple.


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Thailand welcomed a record total of 29.88 million international visitors in 2015, it has been confirmed.
The figure, released by the country’s Ministry of Tourism & Sports this week, marks a 20.4% increase compared to a relatively weak 2014, but still exceeds the previous record full-year total, set in 2013.
Thailand’s tourism revenues jumped 23.4% to THB1.44 trillion (approx. US$40 billion).
“It was another remarkable year in 2015. The performance endorses the scope and effectiveness of the 2015 ‘Discover Thainess’ campaign and its success in restoring travel confidence,” said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Dr Yuthasak Supasorn.
The record tourism numbers are being driven by demand from other Asian countries. Thailand welcomed 21.28m Asian visitors last year, or 71.2% of the total.
Mainland China remains Thailand’s largest source market, generating 7.93m visitors in 2015, up 71.1% year-on-year. Malaysia (3.42m visitors) was second, followed by Japan (1.38m), South Korea (1.37m), Laos (1.23m) and India (1.07m).
The UK was Thailand’s largest non-Asian market, with 946,919 visitors, exceeding Russia which declined to 884,085. Singapore (937,311) and the US (867,520) were also in the top 10.
The TAT said it is now focusing on increasing visitor revenues in 2016. Dr Yuthasak commented; “Looking at the 2016 prospects… TAT could encourage more travel from Europe, but our 2016 goals focus on balancing the market share, driving higher spending and extending the length-of-stay by promoting secondary destinations and high value travel experiences.”


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Cosmoprof North America (CPNA) announced that registration is now open for the 16th edition of the b2b beauty exhibition. The event will once again be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from July 29-31, and early bird registration—with a 25 percent discount—is available now until June 29. The award-winning event covers all facets of the industry, offering retailers, distributors, beauty brands and suppliers the unique opportunity to discover trend-directional solutions that meet their needs.
The event also provides ample opportunity for attendees to grow their business through its robust educational programs. The educational programs are being offered in cooperation with many leading associations and publications including; Buzzfeed, CEW, The Brain Trust-CAA, FIDM, Beauty Packaging, Cosmetics Design, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and more. The Entrepreneur Academy will also take place, offering a day-long series of workshops focused on everything you need to know to run a beauty business.


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Heir to the legendary Bulli van of the ‘60s, the official vehicle of the hippie movement, the new Volkswagen van is electric and self-driving. It has eight seats and can be turned into a living room. It will be produced starting from 2021.
The Netherlands wants all cars to be electric by 2025
This is the first step of the Dutch Government to ban selling diesel and petrol cars in the country. Is the era of the internal combustion engine over?
The Tesla Model 3, the electric car sold at a moderate price that should revolutionise the market, is still receiving a resounding acclamation while the Netherlands is planning to ban selling new diesel and petrol cars by 2025.
By that year it may be impossible to buy a car with an internal combustion engine in the Netherlands, whether it is a petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle. In fact, a bill was brought before Parliament by a few members of the Dutch Labour Party (PVDA) and approved by the majority of the Tweede Kamer, the Lower House or second chamber of the Dutch Parliament. This is the first step to make non zero-emissions cars illegal and to become the first European country to ban non electric cars.
100% electric cars in the Netherlands?
Within the Labour party and other alliances many deputies disapproved the bill. The Minister of Economic Affairs himself stated that just 15% of all cars may be electric by 2025 and that a better result will be extremely unlikely, or even impossible.
Maybe this bill is a provocation rather than a real possibility of making cars powered by fossil fuels illegal, nonetheless the political debate in the Netherlands has been sparked off. And this isn’t the first example. Recently, the municipality of Paris declared it wants to ban vehicles registered before 2000 from the city. And Hamburg will be the first European city to ban vehicles from the city centre by 2019. Helsinki and Oslo will do the same and promote the use of electric cars.
After the heartfelt call of 20 mayors of twenty European capitals for stricter regulations to limit the vehicles’ CO2 emissions, it is clear that part of the country’s politicians aim to promote sustainable mobility and the se of less polluting vehicles powered by renewable energy.
Germany made the first step towards banning petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles. If the federal resolution is passed into law, starting from 2030 only electric cars will be allowed on the country’s streets.
Oslo has planned to drastically reduce parking lots in order to ban cars from the city centre. Public transportation and cycling lanes will be enhanced to provide for the residents’ needs.
Unveiled in Berlin by Alstom, this sustainable hydrogen-powered train that produces zero emissions will replace diesel-burning ones.
The prototype was developed by two Palestinian 23-year-old students, who self-funded. The car reaches a speed of up to 30 km/h.
Commercial vehicles produced before 1997 won’t be allowed in the streets of Paris. The measure, which will come into force on 1 July, is intended to reduce air pollution in the French capital.
Inside, a cabin made of cellulose and sugarcane. Outside, a cubic design. The Kia Soul with a sustainable spirit is called Eco Electric and promises 200 km at zero emissions. We test drove it: here are 10 things to know before buying it.
Following dieselgate, the members of the European Parliament approved a transitional relaxation of car pollution limits, despite current emission levels are 500% above the official limits.
In France, Germany and the United States the new generation doesn’t long for cars. Young people want smartphones, computers and bicycles.


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Read an article yesterday which discusses some startling endpoint security survey results. Senforce Technologies conducted the survery, which is set for release on Monday. It found that 73% of respondents say their companies store critical data on removable devices including laptops, USB thumbdrives, and even iPods.
With nearly weekly reports of data loss and/or theft related to poor data security policies, one would think companies would be moving more quickly to limit data access and the way in which data are stored. Critical data, such as that containing customer data (e.g., SSNs, credit card numbers), should never be stored on laptops or USB devices.
The article notes how two companies solved the potential problem of employees copying data to USB removable media: one plugged their USB ports with epoxy and the other cut the connections to the ports.


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Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (LON:BMY) has revealed that the reading habits of Britons have changed in the current lockdown compared to the first.
The independent publishing house, in a press release the day after World Book Day, said that during the first lockdown (between March and July 2020), gardening and cooking books were popular as people turned engaged in activities they could do at home.
This time around, in 2021, people seem to be gearing up for a revival of rampant running, with books on running and career development proving popular.
2020 has also seen a resurgence of interest in social justice, spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer, Bloomsbury said, with Reni Eddo’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race.” -Lodge on Bloomsbury’s 2020 Best Seller List. .
Lockdown 2021, however, has seen escape fantasy fiction top readers’ lists, thanks to Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Silver Flames, which is currently number one in many countries (and coincidentally is published by Bloomsbury).
Since the first lockdown around a year ago, there has been a surge in interest in reading, which has benefited publishing houses such as Bloomsbury.
At times over the past 12 months, it has not been possible to leisurely browse the local bookstore (if you still have one), which has led to a surge in online book sales and e-book revenue .
Bloomsbury said in its interim earnings statement (covering the six months to the end of August) that online book sales and e-book revenue grew significantly year-over-year.
This includes academic e-books, which probably shouldn’t be surprising given the amount of “distance learning” that has taken place during the shutdowns.
Bloomsbury added that it has seen an increase in sales of teaching and education books as parents shift to homeschooling their children, with The National Curriculum Outdoors series for different groups of children. age among the most popular titles.
Many children embraced reading at the start of the pandemic, according to the World Book Day charity. The majority looked online for reading inspiration, with YouTube (45%), social media (28%) and friends (31%) cited as a key source of ideas.
Young people said that reading helped them relax (40%) and made them happy (35%).
Access to books remains a serious problem, especially for disadvantaged children and families, the charity said. Although many schools have implemented quarantine programs and delivery services, 40% of elementary school children have been unable to take books home, he reported.
A year into the pandemic, reading has declined slightly in 2021, according to the latest research from Nielsen Books.
“It is clear that people’s lifestyles have changed during the pandemic, as has their media consumption. Books play an important role for many at the moment, and we can see that people’s reading tastes are changing depending on their circumstances,” said Nigel Newton, chief executive of Bloomsbury.
“On the other side of lockdown, books are proving to be invaluable sources of help to help parents with home schooling or to provide an hour or so of escape from the stress of lockdown. Whatever people need, the books have been there to support them in these difficult times,” he added.


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Sedicii is excited to announce that it has been selected as a “2018 TiE50 Finalist” for the prestigious TiE50 Awards Program recognising the world’s most innovative tech startups. This awards competition is part of TiE Inflect 2018, the world’s largest conference for tech entrepreneurs.
“The team is thrilled that Sedicii has been recognised by TiE50. We believe that Sedicii’s zero knowledge proof technology will power the next wave of business innovation and create the de facto standard for a global identity in the digital world. Recognition from our peers brought us this honour; it is a great encouragement indeed and a boost for us all”.
Rob Leslie, Sedicii, CEO/Founder
As the world has seen over the last number of weeks and months, identity and personal privacy are matters that people care deeply about. With the GDPR enforcement date only three weeks away, consumers and service providers are now acutely aware how important it is to have in place robust, state-of-the-art systems to ensure compliance, trustworthiness, privacy and peace of mind for all parties when it comes to how personal data is managed.
About TiE Inflect 2018:
TiE Inflect (previously TiEcon) is the world’s largest conference for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs with participation from top technology companies, leading venture capital firms, and global services providers. TiEcon 2017 attracted 5400+ attendees from across the world – including CEOs of established companies to first-time entrepreneurs creating new companies, to leading investment professionals and corporate executives. The conference was listed by Worth Magazine as one of the 10 best conferences for ideas and entrepreneurship along with TED and the World Economic Forum. For more information, please visit http://www.tieinflect.org.
“TiE50 has become a global brand that attracts thousands of tech startups worldwide. This year, we screened more than 7,400 companies from 28 countries and selected the best-of-breed as our “2018 TiE50 Finalists”. These companies are finalists in the ultimate runoff for the 50 winners. Our program has gained notoriety over the past decade as a competition run with the highest level of integrity and vigorous screening and judging by domain experts”.
Kamal Anand, TiE50 Program Chair
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a not-for-profit founded in 1992 in the Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and senior professionals. TiE is the world’s largest network of tech entrepreneurs. We are a cohesive global network with a footprint of half million entrepreneurs, enterprise executives, investment professionals, and other accomplished individuals. We operate from 60 cities in 16 countries. http://www.tieeco.org
“As a 26-year not-for-profit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and with a global footprint of half million entrepreneurs, enterprise executives, and investment professionals, we pride in the fact that we are one of very few competitions without any pay-to-play incentives”.
Ram K. Reddy, TiE Silicon Valley, President


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News & Events
Low Sodium? Trans fat, cholesterol and lactose free – Packed full of calcium, protein, vitamins and fiber? – All in a delicious cheese product?
Whitehall Specialties to Open Fourth Location!
(Whitehall, WI, July 26, 2016) – Whitehall Specialties is pleased to announce the acquisition of the property, buildings and equipment of the former Castle
Whitehall Launches New Loaf Line
Whitehall Specialties recently responded to customer demand by expanding its loaf line offerings and capabilities. Scheduled to launch in early fall, the new line features processing
Whitehall Specialties’ Response to Act 120
In 2015, the state of Vermont passed mandatory GMO labeling legislation, named Act 120. This state law will take effect on July 1, 2016 and
THAT’S SO GOUDA!
Whitehall Specialties rode its innovative Gouda products to an award-winning performance in the 2016 World Championship Cheese Contest recently. The company recorded two 5th place
Ohio Valley IFT Supplier’s Night- April 28th
Regional IFT West Chester, OH Mark Miller
American Dairy Products Institute- April 24th-26th
ADPI Chicago, IL Steve Lutzke, John Liska
International Cheese Technology Exposition- April 12th-14th
Wisconsin Cheesemaker’s Association Wisconsin Center, Milkwaukee, WI Mark your Calendars for the 2016 International Cheese Technology Epo Karl Kramer, Dave Kelsey, Tim Pufunt, Steve Lutzke,


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Clean Clothes Fashion Tracker Shows Transparency Is Key
New data on the Fashion Checker website shows transparency remains key to holding brands accountable, as workers, unions and activists call on brands not to “leave workers destitute” during the pandemic.
It also shows that very few brands surveyed improved their transparency score. CCC says not all of the brands studied have yet to ensure that workers in their supply chain receive their pre-pandemic wages during the pandemic, let alone living wages, despite their promises to uphold labor rights in their supply chains.
Specifically, Fashion Checker’s updated data, collected in collaboration with Fashion Revolution, focuses on transparency and reveals that 159 brands (60%) received a 1 or 2 star rating, which means they do not do not comply with the Transparency Pledge.
46 of 264 brands (17%) receive five stars, which means they disclose additional information about their supply chain, such as whether or not there is a union in the workplace.
Fashion Checker, which was launched in June, will be presented at the UNECE-SDA BOCCONI event on accelerating action on sustainability and circularity in the garment and footwear sector with innovations that ensure due diligence reasonable and informed choice of consumers in Milan, Italy.
This is the first in a series of events that aim to provide industry stakeholders with the tools they need to take action for sustainable development and advance circular economy approaches to nationally, regionally and globally, CCC said.
The regional workshop is co-organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the SDA Bocconi School of Management, in collaboration with the project “Enhancing Traceability and Transparency for Sustainable and Circular Value Chains in Garment and Footwear ”, Implemented jointly with the United Nations International Trade Center (ITC).
“Many brands make promises and demands regarding respect for workers’ rights and the payment of a living wage, but without transparency they remain mere demands and workers, unions and civil society organizations are incapable to hold brands accountable for their promises, ”CCC says. “The lack of transparency once again demonstrates the need for ambitious human rights due diligence legislation. At EU level as well as in several European countries, such legislation is currently under discussion, which is promising.
“Transparency, however, must be part of such legislation. Without transparency, monitoring the implementation of legislation will be extremely difficult. In addition, transparency is an integral part of the accountability required in an HRD process. ”
Paul Roeland, Transparency Coordinator, CCC, adds: “Brands need to stop hiding their supply chains. Their clothes are made by real people, often the hardest hit by the pandemic. When workers’ rights violations occur, they need to know where to seek redress. And consumers deserve to know where and how clothes are made.


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According to McKinsey & Co, the online revolution is expected to boost productivity, creating 46 million new jobs in China by 2025, many of them higher-skilled. The losers will be as many as 31 million traditional roles.
While such creative destruction is a global phenomenon, its speed and scale in China is unparalleled, believes Cao Lei, director of Hangzhou-based China E-commerce Research Centre, a private research agency. “The Internet helps improve productivity and efficiency, but it can be quite painful for traditional businesses. Bookstores fail first followed by clothing chains, consumer electronics stores and air-ticket booking offices. And in the future, bank branches and other traditional services facilities may fail as well,” Lei adds.
The shift online could contribute up to 22% of the nation’s productivity growth by 2025, accounting for 7-to-22% of the total increase in GDP from 2013-25, indicates McKinsey. By 2025 that could translate into as much as $2.2 trillion in China’s annual GDP.
Clashes between the old and new economies are set to intensify, forecasts Ouyang Rihui, deputy dean at the Academy of Internet Economy, a research agency within the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, adding that the loss of retailers is just the beginning of the effect of technology on jobs. “The real challenge for China will be at the front-end of production — imagine a day when most manufacturing is automated. At the end of the day, the new economy will win,” Rihui concludes.


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Check out the brand new single from Goapele called “Time Heals”.
Also featured on “Time Heals” are Errol Cooney, Michael Aaberg, Derrick Hodge, Chris Dave & Keyon Harrold.
The new music is a bit of a return from a hiatus for Goapele. After all, she hasn’t really given us anything since releasing her “DreamSeeker” album back in 2017.
In addition to the new single, Goapele also has an EP scheduled for release this summer.


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From gorgeous landscapes to sites of historical interest, the South of Mauritius has plenty of wonders in store. The region’s natural assets and unspoiled beauty are certain to seduce you.
Wellness holidays are a growing trend, and hotels that offer a holistic wellness experience are in greater demand than ever. Indeed, travel is being redefined as an inner journey, a transformational experience, a quest for happiness. That is precisely what Heritage Resorts seeks to offer its guests with its new menu of Wellness activities and treatments.
Again this year again, the Heritage Golf Club was awarded the title of “Indian Ocean’s Best Golf Course” (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019) for the sixth consecutive year. Votes have been cast by the golf industry and the public in a range of categories during the year, and the winners have been unveiled this Tuesday 29th October in Abu Dhabi, at the prestigious World Golf Awards 2019 Ceremony.
After a four-month renovation, Heritage C Beach Club is back with cosy and welcoming new spaces and a delicious gourmet menu. Are you ready for what Mauritius’ trendiest beach club has in store?


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E-commerce continues to grow rapidly, with sales soaring 14% in 2021 to $869 billion, according to Mintel’s executive summary of US retail and e-commerce for 2022. And while e-commerce sales have traditionally been just a small portion of business for baking and snack companies, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have changed this for good.
“COVID really sped up the growth and adoption of e-commerce in the realm of groceries,” explained Erin Heikkinen, vice president of e-commerce strategy and consulting, Advantage Digital Commerce. “Prior to COVID, there was a question in a lot of consumers’ eyes of buying groceries online and will it meet my needs and will it be satisfactory in the process. Being strong-armed into it during the pandemic due to their fear for safety and health risks really helped people get over that hurdle of trying it for the first time.”
Many consumers realized they can have the same grocery shopping experience online as they do in store, with a large selection of items and the ability to customize their orders. As a result, online sales of bakery and snack foods will grow, even though many consumers have returned to in-person grocery shopping.
“The trend is going to continue, both from those who have started to adopt it in the current generations — the millennials, the boomers, Generation X — but the continued fuel power is coming behind it with the younger generations that aren’t going to think twice about shopping online, because they do everything online,” Ms. Heikkinen said.
IRI data shows that 21% of all multichannel sales are now happening online, according to the 52 weeks ending Feb. 20, 2022. Online sales of general food, which includes bakery and snack items, stand at 13.4% of the food and drink category at $31.9 billion. While this lags behind categories like beauty and health, it’s the fastest growing online food segment at 10% growth.
“E-commerce is here to stay,” said Sam Gagliardi, senior vice president of e-commerce, consumer and shopper marketing, IRI. “We predict it will be at least a third of the total grocery industry sales by the end of next year at the latest.”
Pure-play vs. omnichannel
Food companies moving into e-commerce must be aware of its two main channels. The pure-play channel includes online-only sellers like Amazon, while the omnichannel is represented by in-store retailers such as Walmart and Target that also sell products online.
Each channel is growing in different ways and serves a unique purpose. E-commerce pioneer Amazon has the largest share of the online grocery space and accounts for half of all online sales, IRI reports. But omnichannel grocery sales are also growing quickly, largely thanks to strong customer loyalty, Mr. Gagliardi said.
“When you look at the US grocery industry, these retailers specifically have the most loyal consumers of any industry,” he explained. “More and more shoppers generationally shop at the same grocery store over and over again.”
When consumers migrate their shopping experience from in-store to online, they want to shop at the store they’ve gone to their entire life.
“Those new omnichannel retailers that are able to exist in-store and online, they’re actually growing the fastest and taking share away from Amazon, and especially for bakery we would expect that to continue,” Mr. Gagliardi said.
Food brands should capitalize on this consumer loyalty and get their products on omnichannel sites. But establishing a presence on pure players like Amazon is equally important.
“Because of the size and scale of Amazon here in the US, it still is a must-win for all brands and all categories, although it might not be their No. 1 revenue driver,” Ms. Heikkinen noted. “I think pure-play has a place and needs to be managed more so as a marketing tool for perishables.”
If brands aren’t putting their products in front of consumers in the pure-play space, others will.
“If you’re not choosing to engage with Amazon, there will be someone else out there, a third-party seller, who will take your brand and sell it online,” Mr. Gagliardi warned. “And if they’re doing it, then you lose control of your brand messaging, you lose control of what that product detail page can look like. Some third-party individuals will set it up with what they believe the brand stands for, opposed to what you and your brand managers believe it should stand for.”
Muffin Town, Chelsea, Mass., sells its products on Amazon as well as numerous other online platforms. In addition to the Muffin Town website and Madeline’s Pantry, its own online bakery, Muffin Town’s baked goods are available on Walmart, ePallet and Instacart, as well as Google Shopping, Facebook and Instagram.
“The goal is to get us into as many omnichannels as possible,” said Roger Piffer, director of marketing, Muffin Town. “Orders come from all these channels, and more visibility means recognition.”
Knowing where to start
With so many sellers to choose from across pure-play and omnichannel, some companies may be unsure where to start putting their products online. Mr. Gagliardi said it’s critical brands first get their distribution set up properly on whatever channel they choose.
“If it’s a pure-play like Amazon, you have to make sure you get listed. If it’s with these omnichannel retailers, you have to make sure that they’re bringing their in-store assortment to online,” Mr. Gagliardi explained. “Once you gain your distribution, that’s when you need to go back and cultivate your product detail page.”
This detail page includes a product’s description, title, packaging, ingredients, benefits, company story and more, and if done right, will help a brand stand out from its online competitors.
“Brands need to own that process,” Mr. Gagliardi emphasized. “Once you own that presence and own what your packaging is now in the online space, then what you finally need to do is drive awareness and drive consumers to that product page so they can actually buy you.”
Consumers’ online loyalty makes driving this brand awareness especially important. When it comes to groceries, shoppers aren’t re-shopping, they’re rebuying off their previous grocery list, Mr. Gagliardi said. Once customers start buying a certain product, they’re going to keep buying it unless they have a bad experience or the product is out of stock.
“That online presence is really the tip of your marketing spear, and if it’s not done right, or if it’s done by someone else, then you’re really losing a significant part of marketing to specific consumers,” he said. “If you’re not utilizing e-commerce as not just another sales channel but also a media channel, then you really are opening yourself up to a lot of competitors winning that purchase. And once they win that purchase, they’re more likely to win the next purchase.”
B.T.R. Bar, San Francisco, for example, prioritizes building a personal relationship with customers so that they keep coming back.
“As soon as we get reviews through our Shopify stores, I reach out to each of our customers. I’m able to set up calls with them and crowdsource more data about what they’re looking for within the snacking industry,” said B.T.R. founder Ashley Nickelsen. “We get this one-on-one time, and we know who they are.”
Having an online rating and review system is great for gathering valuable consumer feedback, but it’s also a necessary tool for driving customer conversion to a brand’s product.
“The number of reviews shoppers want to see in order to feel comfortable making a purchase is important and becoming larger,” said Stephen Chriss, vice president of digital commerce and omni shopper marketing, Campbell Snacks, Camden, NJ. “One to 10 ratings/reviews has a 40-plus % conversion rate, whereas 100-plus ratings/reviews has over a 200% conversion rate.”
Regardless of a brand’s online strategy, it’s important they start small and realistically assess what the size of the prize is. With so many additional touchpoints and labor behind the scenes, profitability is one of the biggest challenges for online food sellers, so companies have to make sure they don’t stretch themselves too thin.
“I’ve seen a lot of small brands get really enthusiastic about getting out and getting everywhere, but there’s just not enough time in the day to do that, so let’s prioritize and start with one or two,” Ms. Heikkinen said. “Then when we get that right and start to grow, then let’s focus on three, four and five.”
This article is an excerpt from the May 2022 issue of Baking & Snack. To read the entire feature on E-Commerce, click here.


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Travellers International Hotel Group is expanding its reach in Asia, and is poised to open two new luxury hotels – a 355-room Hilton and 390-room Sheraton – at Resorts World Manila (RWM) in Newport City. Target date of completion is sometime in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The Westin hotel chain is likewise eyeing the Philippine market, with plans of opening a 600-room hotel by 2018, at the Travellers group’s second integrated resort project, Bayshore City Resorts World.
“Sheraton and Hilton will be an exciting addition to Resorts World Manila, which we target to complete by the fourth quarter of 2017. And Bayshore City Resorts World, which will have a Westin, is expected to open by the fourth quarter of 2018,” Travellers president Kingson Sian said.
High-end hotel operator Okura, responsible for the Japanese luxury-hotel brand, likewise plans to open at the Bayshore complex.
Beefing-up its existing 5-year-old structure in the RWM complex, the Marriot Hotel will be adding a new wing with a 228-room capacity
Travellers said Monday that they are optimistic about the upcoming developments, especially since all the hotel operators with plans to open up shop in both RWM and Bayshore were recently cited by US business magazine Fortune and Travel+Leisure magazines for their top-notch loyalty programs.


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Video Games Turn Serious
| Jun. 25 2018
A three-part series on the videogame industry and where it may be heading.
Selling With Selfies: How China’s Social Media Stars Get Rich?
| Jun. 4 2018
Becoming a movie star isn’t attractive anymore. For many young netizens in China, online stardom is the ultimate dream.
CKGSB Knowledge is the school's quarterly English language publication.Read
Huawei Takes on the World
Is Huawei’s global branding push enough to erase the memory of public blunders and herald the next step toward.
| Jun. 16 2014
China Round-up: More Chinese IPOs in the US; Alibaba Buys UCWeb; and Inflation Woes
The week that was: Alibaba continued to make waves with its UCWeb buy and China Post tie-up; Baidu tied.
| Jun. 13 2014
Chris Stibbs, CEO of The Economist: A Finger on the Reader’s Pulse
Chris Stibbs, the new CEO of The Economist, on staying competitive in the fast-changing world of publishing, native advertising.
| Jun. 9 2014
China Roundup: Alibaba’s Soccer and Telecom Forays; and Metal Financing Crackdowns
The week that was: Alibaba’s soccer team stake and telecom plans; China wakes up to the risks in.
| Jun. 6 2014
CKGSB Knowledge Summer 2014 Issue: China’s Urban Pulse
The Summer 2014 issue of CKGSB Knowledge is out! It has articles and interviews like: COVER STORY: The Business of.
| Jun. 4 2014
China Roundup: Rules on Foreign Investment in China’s Healthcare Sector Eased and Alibaba’s SingPost stake
The week that was: Government eases regulation on foreign investment in China’s healthcare sector; Alibaba picks up a.
| May. 30 2014
What You Should Know About the Alibaba IPO
CKGSB Professor Teng Bingsheng, an expert on the Chinese e-commerce sector, walks us through the issues involved in the.
| May. 28 2014
China’s Mobile Gaming Companies and the Battle for Users
China’s mobile gaming companies are using every trick in the book to lure users in what is now.
| May. 27 2014
China Roundup: Jingdong’s IPO; Lenovo’s home market woes; and a solution to China’s local debt problem?
The week that was: Chinese e-commerce retailer Jingdong (JD.com) finally went public on the Nasdaq; China’s.
| May. 23 2014
The Age of Micro-Multinational Companies
Low communication costs and improved access to global markets for talent, supply chain requirements and customers is paving the way.
| May. 22 2014
Can BYD Auto Go Head to Head with Tesla?
Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD Auto has great expectations from the US market. Can it deliver? An interview with Stella Li.
| May. 20 2014
China Roundup: China’s Slowing Economy; Tencent’s Profits Up; and Facebook’s China Office
The week that was: China’s slowing economy; Tencent profit rises on growth in online games; Alibaba battles fakes.
| May. 16 2014


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MUNDY TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Mundy Township is the latest among area municipalities trying to give its residents a reason to take that extra step beyond the trash can toward the recycling bin.
On April 13, the Township Board unanimously decided to work with Rewards for Recycling, a Davison-based company that offers coupons and discounts from local businesses to consumers who take the time to separate their metal cans, paper and cardboard before taking it out to the curb.
The township will participate on a six-month trial basis, during which Supervisor David Guigear said he wants to gather feedback from residents on whether they would want to continue with the program, which then would require a special assessment.
In Genesee County, the assessment is 75 cents per residence per month.
Participants in Rewards for Recycling earn points each time they recycle by placing a sticker with a computer chip on their recycling bins. That sticker is scanned each time the bin is emptied. Rewards then can be claimed on the company's Web site, www.rewardsforrecycling.com, where each participant has a unique user name and password.
"We're excited about it. It's a sign of the times. I think anything we can do to go green is positive," Guigear said.
Residents should expect to get a startup kit, which includes information on recycling, the computer chip and a letter from Guigear explaining the program.
Preston Hards, spokesman for Rewards for Recycling, said this is a situation where everyone wins. Companies benefit by getting more traffic through their doors, consumers win by saving a few bucks, "and most importantly, the environment wins," he said.
The key is to make those incentives worthwhile, Hards said. He said he has turned businesses away who wouldn't offer a good enough discount for their goods.
"We want to make the incentive worthwhile," he said. "If you said you want to offer 20 cents off a (hamburger), we'd probably say no, because you can already get that in the paper. We want our users to get good value."
The coupons and discounts are divided into two tiers. Tier 1 rewards, which Hards said carry an average value of $1 to $3, are available just after signing up. The Tier 2 rewards, which have a greater value, are available after the recyclables are picked up.
Damon's Grill in Grand Blanc Township offers a Tier 2 reward of a free entree with the purchase of another. After less than three weeks with the program, Damon's manager Matt Pudvay said he's seen about 40 to 50 Rewards for Recycling coupons come through the doors. Many of those, he said, are new customers.
"It works great. It's bringing people in," he said.
For regular recyclers, bigger prizes will be available. Each time a participant recycles, his or her name is entered into a drawing. An upcoming prize is the "Made in Michigan" package, which will award the winner gift certificates to Michigan-based businesses' products such as Pinconning cheese and Koegel's meats.
In Genesee County, Davison Township and Grand Blanc Township have signed on with Rewards for Recycling, totaling 30,000 registered recyclers through the program. According to Hards, Davison has seen about a 50 percent increase in the amount of people who recycle and that the volume of recyclables picked up has about tripled since the end of March.
In Grand Blanc Township, about 3,000 people have registered their Rewards for Recycling accounts.
"That's a lot not going to the landfill," Hards said.
For people without Internet access at home, Rewards for Recycling offers special e-mail addresses through the company and encourages people to use a friend's computer or visit the library.


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KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments increased during the second quarter 2016 when compared to first quarter 2016 area shipments, according to the US-based Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI)’s Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry.
In a statement on its website yesterday, SEMI said total silicon wafer area shipments were 2,706 million square inches during the most recent quarter, a 6.6% increase from the 2,538 million square inches shipped during the previous quarter.
It said new quarterly total area shipments are 0.1% higher than second quarter 2015 shipments and are at their highest recorded quarterly level.
"Silicon shipment growth continues to gain momentum resulting in a quarterly volume shipment high,” said Dr. Volker Braetsch, chairman SEMI SMG and senior vice president of Siltronic AG.
“Although year-to-date shipments are effectively flat relative to the same period as last year,” said Braetsch.


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The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious retailers. Brooks Brothers — pioneer of the polo and uniform of the polished prepster — filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, as it continues to search for a buyer.
The retailer, which is more than two centuries old, boasts of having dressed 40 U.S. presidents and countless investment bankers. Early to the office-casual look, it became known for its crisp oxfords and jaunty sports jackets. But rent had become a burden, and the pandemic torpedoed a sale process that began in 2019.
It began to evaluate which of its roughly 250 North American stores to close in early April. It has already decided to close about 51, a decision it attributes to the pandemic. It has more than 500 stores worldwide and employs 4,025 people.
The company trended for other reasons recently.
Retailer Brooks Brothers filed for bankruptcy, squeezed by the coronavirus pandemic and a yearslong shift to casual office attire https://t.co/ZSjnSgdipx
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 8, 2020
Is it just me or does an AR-15 clash horrible with French Neo-Classic Architecture? Is there not a Beaux Arts weapons manufacturer for the gentleman that appreciates Brooks Brothers but also likes to shoot at his neighbors in peaceful assembly? pic.twitter.com/x8vEFlSfUx
— NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) June 29, 2020


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Clint Dempsey, Gareth Bale, Eric Dier, More Highlight Newest Panini Instant Arrivals
Day nine of Panini Instant is underway — and with it comes the biggest release of cards in Panini Instant’s brief history. Just minutes ago, Panini America’s real-time trading card program launched six new offerings. Two cards honor U.S. Soccer superstars Clint Dempsey and John Brooks, who helped the U.S. Men’s National Team to a 1-0 win over Paraguay and a group victory in Copa America Centenario.
Sunday’s other four Panini Instant releases pay tribute to the biggest stars of day two in Euro 2016, including cards devoted to Wales’ Gareth Bale, England’s Eric Dier and Russia’s Vasili Berezutski.
The six new Panini Instant cards will be available only for the next 24 hours in made-to-order base versions and limited-edition versions numbered to 25, five and only one. Visit the Panini Instant website for additional information. Below, we also provide a gallery of all Panini Instant cards to date.


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A collection of news and information related to Carrefour S.A. published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 13 » View wdbj7.com items only1 2 Next >
ReutersBRUSSELS (Reuters) - Visa Europe, the European licensee of Visa Inc. , has offered to cap its inter-bank credit card fees at the same level as rival MasterCard to end a European Union antitrust investigation and stave off a possible fine. Visa Europe,...
ReutersMay 13 (Reuters) - () -------------- PREVIOUS ITEM: -------------- Blackstone eyes LIC's 14 pct stake in Stock Holding Corp - Economic Times () ------ Note: Reuters has not verified the story and does not vouch for its accuracy.
ReutersBy Jane Lee and Gabriel Wildau SHANGHAI, May 11 (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters gathered in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday to oppose plans for a lithium battery factory, highlighting growing social tension over pollution. Police...
ReutersBy Christian Plumb and Dominique Vidalon May 3 (Reuters) - Colony Capital, the $27 billion U.S. investment fund attracting controversy in France over its involvement in Carrefour and Accor, will invest up to 1.5 billion euros in Europe on a bet the...
ReutersLONDON (Reuters) - Mass retailers and the Internet will increasingly dominate the $164 billion global wine market at the expense of bars and restaurants, industry experts said on Thursday. A report commissioned by VINEXPO, an international wine and...
ReutersApril 19 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Friday. ** Blackstone Group LP has ended its pursuit of Dell Inc, easing the way for founder Michael Dell and his private equity partner Silver...
PARIS (AP) - Stung by Europe's growing horse meat scandal, French farmers and food industry officials were recently flocking to Paris to show off their wares and defend the reputation of the Western world's culinary heartland. Paris' yearly Agricultural...
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — At least 112 people were killed in a fire that raced through a multi-story garment factory just outside of Bangladesh's capital, an official said Sunday. The blaze broke out at the seven-story factory operated by Tazreen...
Tags: Tesco plc, Walmart, Bangladesh, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Fires
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Claims that U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart used payoffs to speed zoning and other permits in its break-neck Mexican expansion is sparking soul-searching in Mexico, where crowded government offices are the working grounds of shadowy...
Fast food mega-chain McDonald’s Corp. and supermarket giant Carrefour SA issued apologies Friday after being accused by state-owned China Central Television of selling expired or mislabeled chicken. In an investigation that aired Thursday, CCTV...
World NowThe Indian Parliament adjourned in an uproar Friday over the government's decision to let large international retailers enter the country's long-protected market....
Money & CompanyWal-Mart said Monday it was replacing the head of its operations in China, the latest set-back in the country for the giant U.S. retailer after employees were arrested and detained last week in the western city of Chongqing over a......
May 14, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 12, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 11, 2013 |Story| Reuters
May 3, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Apr 25, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Apr 19, 2013 |Story| Reuters
Mar 8, 2013 |Story| Aberdeen News
Nov 25, 2012 |Story| AP Broadcast
Apr 24, 2012 |Story| Petoskey News
Mar 16, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Nov 25, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
Oct 17, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
Original site for Carrefour S.A. topic gallery.


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[UPDATE: A report at Gamasutra listing the top 20 sellers shows "Guitar Hero" sold better on Xbox 360.]
[UPDATE #2: NPD has confirmed that the numbers they original numbers they provided to us for this story were incorrect. Their data now indicates that the 360 version edged out the Wii version.]
The latest "Guitar Hero" was not in October's top ten best sellers, according to NPD Group data released today.
But that doesn't mean "Guitar Hero" didn't garner solid sales. It did. Furthermore, it's most impressive sales were where you might not expect: Wii.
"Guitar Hero: World Tour," across all platforms, sold 534,000 copies combined, according to NPD. The Wii version, however, sold best, accruing 183,000 copies sold. Comparatively, "Rock Band 2" sold 363,000 copies on Xbox 360 alone in September. [CORRECTION: NPD now reports that the Xbox 360 version topped the Wii version, selling about 191,000 units]
If NPD's top list extended further, the Wii version would have been 18 of 20.
We've seen that both "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" have found substantial success on Wii, but the machine hasn't shown this much prowess in a first-month release so far. Plus, "Rock Band 2" has yet to even launch on Wii.
What do you think this means for the future of music games, readers?
And can anyone recall if a Nintendo version of a multi-platform game ever outsold its competition since the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras began? "Soul Calibur II" maybe? Anything else? This never happens.


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White house adviser Larry Kudlow suspects China of stealing technology from Apple
State-owned enterprises of China, possibly with the support of the authorities “steal” corporate secrets from Apple. This opinion in an interview with Bloomberg
stated Larry Kudlow, chief economic adviser to the White house.
“I don’t want too much here to guess, but the technology Apple may have been borrowed by China, and now China is becoming very competitive with Apple. You need to adhere to the law. Nothing concrete yet,” said Kudlow in an interview with Bloomberg.
The statement of the Advisor sounded after reports of the Ministry of Commerce of China that Chinese and American officials plan to meet on January 7-8 to discuss trade issues. Both countries within a few months was involved in a trade dispute which has caused excitement in the global market.
Apple declined to comment.
The problem hinted Kudlow, is not new. Company know the price of doing business in China. Apple had been at particular risk because of its vulnerability to China and the difficulties that arise in the manufacturing sector of the country.
The US intelligence services and the Ministry of justice has compiled a long list of concerted hacking and espionage campaigns that are used by China to steal American technology. The Chinese government and Chinese companies for many years denied most of these claims, which American companies could not take the necessary measures. For example, in 2018 a former Apple engineer charged with stealing trade secrets related to the development of unmanned car, and you try to escape with them to China. The engineer pleaded not guilty.
MDlavka — our store for your favorite readers. Technology Apple for the most pleasant prices are waiting for you every day from 10:00 to 21:00. Readers Macdigger.ru discount.


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Consumer foods product maker Eagle Family Foods Group LLC is preparing to land in the Phoenix Building, a 1918-vintage building at 1975 E. 61st St. in Cleveland that Hemingway Development has updated inside to serve as a contemporary corporate headquarters.
The company produces and sells well-known brands ranging from Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk, used in everything from cheesecakes to frosting, and PET milk, the original evaporated milk, to Skinny Sticks, a vegetable-based snack, and G.H. Cretors Popcorn.
Eagle was launched in 2016, when Kelso & Co. of New York City bought the milk products line from The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) of Orrville, and has subsequently added other brands to its lineup. It's currently in The ArcelorMittal USA Building, 4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway in Richfield Village.
Hemingway already has outfitted the two-story industrial structure at its Link 55 commercial campus to house Eagle Family Foods after making basic updates to the original building two years ago, according to Nathan Wynveen, portfolio manager of Hemingway, which is in Cleveland. He said the development concern had eschewed slicing the building up for multiple tenants in order to land a larger, more impactful tenant such as this.
"They'll do great things for the neighborhood and the city," Wynveen said in a phone interview. "We hope this is the start of a long, productive friendship for us and the city with Eagle."
Legislation to provide incentives to Eagle is pending before Cleveland City Council because the company would bring a $14 million annual payroll, producing an estimated $225,000 in municipal income tax from bringing 125 jobs to Cleveland, according to a briefing document the city's economic development department filed with council.
Richard Barga, a project manager in the city's economic development department, wrote in the briefing that Eagle is "looking to establish themselves in an area that can attract the next generation of headquarters workers, who typically prefer a walkable, urban environment" and had set up shop in temporary space in Richfield because it is following a plan to expand through additional acquisitions.
The city measure would allow the Jackson administration to provide the company a $427,500 grant that could be recoverable if the company does not meet expectations and a $228,185 grant based on the jobs it plans to bring to the city. Barga noted the MidTown project also provides Eagle with free parking for its employees.
Link 55 is an 11-acre business campus on Euclid Avenue that also houses a new Dave's Supermarket, headquarters of computer services firm MCPc Inc. and University Hospital's Rainbow Center for Women and Children's health. Wynveen said the real estate company led by Jim Doyle and Fred and Greg Geis has another 20,000 square feet of office space available in the Link 59 office building it constructed on Euclid Avenue and additional land for development.
A spokeswoman for Eagle Family Foods did not return a phone message on Friday, Jan. 3, but had written in emails to Crain's Cleveland Business between Dec. 20 and Dec. 27 that the company would not have an executive available to discuss the move until mid-January. Although Eagle was launched less than four years ago, its website noted some of its brands have a history dating back more than 150 years.


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Humane Inc, a startup founded by former Apple Inc (AAPL.O) employees, has announced that it has raised $100 million in its latest funding round. The company was founded in 2018 by Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, both of whom previously worked at Apple. With this latest funding, Humane has now raised $241 million.
Humane's Plans for AI-driven Products
While Humane has yet to disclose what it is building, the company says that it is working on "a software platform and consumer device built from the ground up for artificial intelligence." A video posted by the company and patent filings suggest that a wearable device will project information onto the real world and allow users to manipulate that information with their hands.
Collaborations with OpenAI, Microsoft, LG Electronics, and Volvo Cars Tech Fund
Humane has also announced that it is collaborating with OpenAI, Microsoft, LG Electronics, and Volvo Cars Tech Fund. OpenAI's founder and a previous Humane investor, Sam Altman, participated in the funding round, and Humane will integrate OpenAI's technology into its device. Microsoft, which has built a massive cloud computing infrastructure specifically for AI, took part in the funding round, and Humane will partner with Microsoft's cloud to bring its software services platform to market.
Humane is also working with LG Electronics "on potential (research and development) projects for the next phase of Humane products" and with Volvo Car's Tech Fund on "a potential future collaboration which would be the first example of Humane’s offering being applied to the automotive industry."
Details of Humane's Device
A leaked investor pitch deck from 2021 suggests that Humane is working on a wearable camera device equipped with a camera that "captures moments you didn’t think to capture" or "moments you want to recall." The device would allow users to mark moments by tapping record and have those moments processed on the server so they can recall them in different styles, either as images or videos. The pitch deck also describes the camera's ability to edit together clips in different styles, such as "filmmaking, documentary, lifestyle," and respond to gestures and questions like "What car is that?" or "What is that building?"
Humane's Founders and Leadership Team
Humane was founded in 2018 by Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, who are described as "husband and wife co-founders." Bongiorno serves as Humane’s CEO, and previously worked on the software engineering side at Apple, while Chaudhri serves as chairman and president at Humane, and was previously a director of design on the Apple human interface team. Humane's chief technology officer is Patrick Gates, who was previously a senior director of engineering at Apple.
The Lifelogging Trend
The idea of lifelogging has been a part of the tech scene for decades, with devices like Autographer and Memento in the early 2010s and cameras like MyMe and Google Clips towards the end of the decade. Humane's rumored product offers similar functionality, using AI to sort and highlight the best footage. However, the trend has never really taken off, either because of privacy concerns, the inconvenience of wearing a camera, or because the end results just weren’t that good.
Humane's latest funding round, which attracted a number of notable investors, has increased anticipation for the company's upcoming product release this spring. With collaborations with OpenAI, Microsoft, LG Electronics, and Volvo Cars Tech Fund, Humane is well-positioned to create AI-driven experiences that feel natural, fun. Let's see what the future holds for this exciting startup.


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Best Buy Black Friday Ad released: Deals start now, latest iPads heavily discounted, TVs, much more
One of the biggest Black Friday 2020 ads has now arrived as Best Buy is showing off its plans for this year’s big shopping event. A number of deals are already available through November 1 and then Best Buy will be rolling out various other promotions throughout the month of November in the lead up to Black Friday proper. My Best Buy members will be privy to special offers throughout the month, as per usual, as the brick and mortar retailer offers up discounts on TVs, Apple products, and much more. Head below for all of our top picks from this year’s Best Buy Black Friday ad, details on store hours, and more.


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The Blue Swan Daily brings you a roundup of the most thought-provoking and interesting comments from those industry leaders in the know.
Divipay CEO: 67% of SMEs do not use corporate expense management programme
Divipay founder and CEO Daniel Knaiz, speaking at the CTC-CAPA Corporate Travel Gathering – Australia, stated (25-Nov-2019) 67% of SMEs do not have access to a corporate expense management programme. Business are either requiring employees to use personal finances or share a single company credit card, he noted, adding inefficient expense processes are “costly to the business” and create “unnecessary admin”.
BTA: Brexit has prevented discussions about ‘Future needs of the business travel sector’
Business Travel Association (BTA) CEO Clive Wratten stated: “What has been clear over the last three years is that the government has been paralysed by Brexit, and that this has prevented serious discussions about the future needs of the business travel sector”, adding: “Put simply, business travel is at the heart of the country’s prosperity” (TTG Media, 21-Nov-2019).
FedEx CEO: Embracing trade agreements would reverse trend of declining US capex
FedEx chairman and CEO Frederick W Smith attributed (21-Nov-2019) the recent slowdown in capital expenditures by US companies to “trade disputes and the attendant global slowdown”. Mr Smith commented: “We believe re-embracing TPP [Trans Pacific Partnership] and TTIP [Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] and passing the new US-Mexico–Canada trade agreement would reverse these trends in short order”. [more – original PR]
Lufthansa Group CEO: Public concern over the environmental impact of air travel ‘quite low’
Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr argued public concern over the environmental impact of air transport is “quite low”, with the number of passengers in Europe currently offsetting their air travel “only 0.1%” (AIN, 22-Nov-2019). Mr Spohr added the group will gradually integrate the option to pay for CO2 compensation into the booking process of all its airlines.
United Airlines CEO on recession: ‘never seen a wider gap’ between the facts and what is discussed
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz, in regards to talks of recession, said he has “never seen a wider gap between what is being discussed and trying to be pushed and the facts and the figures that we see” (CNBC, 21-Nov-2019). He noted the carrier, while unable to “have as long a term of view of things”, is “always watching” so as to be “cognisant” of trends.


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If you want to celebrate hacker day (the day we make things easier for hackers to break into our computer networks) then continue to use easy passwords.
The New York Times writes that According to a new analysis, one out of five Web users still decides to leave the digital equivalent of a key under the doormat: they choose a simple, easily guessed password like “abc123,” “iloveyou” or even “password” to protect their data.
“I guess it’s just a genetic flaw in humans,” said Amichai Shulman, the chief technology officer at Imperva, which makes software for blocking hackers. “We’ve been following the same patterns since the 1990s.”
What this means is that one of the MOST simple things you can do to protect your business is to ensure all employees use relatively difficult passwords for everything.
Having a combination of letters and numbers and utilizing case sensitive passwords is an easy way to “harden” your passwords.
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